It was a week before spring ball and the then-defensive lineman was preparing for his first camp as a collegiate football player. He was summoned for a meeting with offensive line coach Aaron Fernandez and was asked a startling question: Could Larsen play center?

He honestly didn’t know. He had never before played the position, and had never even snapped a ball.

“It was a pretty big shock to me,” Larsen said.

That’s probably how Utah All-Pac-12 defensive lineman Lowell Lotulelei felt last September, too. On Southern Utah's first offensive play of the game, Larsen got Lotulelei off balance and drove him to the ground. Turns out Larsen is pretty good at the whole center thing.

And the SUU coaches think he is just getting started.

“I expect him to be an All-American,” Thunderbirds head coach Demario Warren said. “I thought he got jipped out of the all-conference teams last year. He’s easily one of the best guys in the Big Sky and one of the best in the country.”

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The Southern Utah offensive line looks to the sideline for a play call during practice, August 16, 2017.(Photo: Jordan Allred / The Spectrum & Daily News)

Larsen is the headliner to what offensive coordinator Justin Walterscheid called the strength of SUU's offense. It’s a young group, but one that also has plenty of experience. The T-Birds return three of the five starters from last year — Larsen, junior Austin Mikkelson and sophomore Josh Anderson.

With so many starters returning, it’s a new feeling for Fernandez, who has had to piece together lines from scratch over the last two seasons.

“He’s really focused on technique,” Fernandez said. “He’s so gifted with his strength and with his athleticism, that it almost gets him trouble sometimes because he gets over aggressive or on his toes. He’s trying to turn the corner to be a technical player and more consistent.”

“Last year was a lot of fun, but it was really me getting used to college football,” Larsen said. “Last year, I brought a physical presence but this year I’ve been really trying to work on technique and just making my game sound.”

And he has a pretty good source of knowledge to turn to in his own family. Larsen’s older brother, Tyler, is a center for the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

“I don’t get to talk to him face-to-face too much, but I call him up every once in awhile and see how he is doing and see if he has any tips for me,” Zach said.

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The Southern Utah offensive line lines up for a play during practice, August 18, 2017.(Photo: Jordan Allred / The Spectrum & Daily News)

And he could be getting more tips soon. Zach said his older brother doesn't critique his game film, but he would be welcome to that happening.

“I should tell him to do that,” Zach said. “I got to get him on that. He’s an amazing player. It’s fun to watch him. I learn a ton from him.”

Zach doesn’t have all the physical attributes as Tyler, or even his other older brother, former SUU defensive lineman Cody Larsen. He’s about four inches shorter than both of his brothers. But he feels like he makes up for his lack of prototypical height in other ways.

“I was pretty mad when I ended up shorter than the rest of them,” Zach said. “But I’m blessed with other things. I’m stronger than both of them when they were in college. That’s what I kind of pride myself on, my strength.”

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The Southern Utah offensive line lines up for a play during practice, August 16, 2017.(Photo: Jordan Allred / The Spectrum & Daily News)

His physicalness is his greatest attribute and that’s starting to rub off on all of the other linemen.

“We got some fresh meat that are ready to go out there and put some pancakes on,” Larsen said. “The whole starting group is amazing. We got Josh Anderson, he’s doing great. He’s really brought his toughness and physicality a long way. Austin Mikkelson him moving to guard, he’s been killing it there. And Braxton Jones has been stepping up a lot and I could see him having a big role in the next couple years.”

Larsen made a good first impression last season. Now, he’s hoping to make a strong statement. A statement to his teammates, to the Big Sky coaches and to anyone who lines up against him.

“We are either the strength or the weakness,” Larsen said. “It all starts on the line. We have to set the tone and the physicality. We are the big dogs and we have to make sure we show that.”